Tip Top IV Yacht

Tip top IV Itinerary 8D/7N

TIP TOP IV 8 DAY ITINERARY B

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra, with AVIANCA Airlines, arriving at 09:20 a.m. approximately. A guide meets us and accompanies us as we ride the bus to the Itabaca Channel, we cross the channel by barge and then we continue to Puerto Ayora by bus. We board the Yacht and the crew greets us and offers us a light snack and we have our first orientation. In the afternoon, we land at the pier for a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and its Interpretive Center. Return to the Port for a walk through the little town to appreciate various handicrafts. We board and we have a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Saturday, Day 2

After breakfast, we make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez to walk along lava beds where we will observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December). Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing in Gardner Bay for a walk on the beach and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. We then make a panga ride around the Osborn Islet and the islets of Gardner. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Sunday, Day 3

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Punta Pitt in San Cristobal Island; the trail includes an olivine beach approximately 90 meters and a trail that ascends to the top of a volcanic tuff hill passing through several natural viewpoints. Punta Pitt is composed of volcanic tuff substrate. High winds present there have led to natural erosion. This is the only site in the Galapagos Islands, where you can watch the three species of boobies and 2 species of frigates nesting in the same area. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, our experienced Captain sails easily around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a massive tuff-rock that juts abruptly almost 500 feet straight from the ocean. Kicker Rock serves as nesting place for many sea birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/ or snorkel. Then we make a wet landing on Cerro Brujo to walk on a white sand beach and observe sea lions, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or kayak. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation

Monday, Day 4

After breakfast, we make an early wet landing on Mosquera Island, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach and tide pools. We observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue footed boobies and sally light-foot crabs, the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the bottom and the black lava is stunning. We come aboard for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a panga ride on Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; here we can observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays. We board the Yacht for dinner and the first of our nightly orientations.

Tuesday, Day 5

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island, we can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/ or Kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, we make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. We walk and we arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where we can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. We return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Wednesday, Day 6

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. We return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we make a dry landing on Bartolome Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike we observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit we have an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. We return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and our nightly orientation

Thursday, Day 7

After breakfast, we make a wet landing on Santa Fe Island to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas native from Santa Fe. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel and/or kayak. Return to the Yacht for lunch and sail to South Plaza, where we make a dry landing on the pier of the island, there we can enjoy the antics of the sea lions. A walk through a cactus forest allows us to observe land iguanas and many species of tropical birds. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Yacht for dinner and our nightly orientation.

Friday, Day 8

After breakfast we make an early disembark on Las Bachas Beach, a place where we can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, your guide will be explaining details about the lives of the birds and animals. We return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

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